BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The Niagara hockey team came all the way back after falling into a 2-0 deficit 2:53 into the game to claim a 3-2 win over the Sacred Heart Pioneers Friday night at Webster Bank Arena. Sacred Heart scored on both of its first two shots on goal, but Niagara outshot Sacred Heart 42-13 the rest of the way, with goals from Eric Cooley and Tanner Lomsnes tying the game after 40 minutes. Derian Plouffe scored on a power-play breakaway 59 seconds into the third period for the game-winning goal.
Game Summary
· Final Score: Niagara 3, Sacred Heart 2
· Niagara Goal Scorers: Eric Cooley, Tanner Lomsnes, Derian Plouffe
· Niagara Assists: Derek Brown, Noah Delmas, Derian Plouffe, James Roll (2)
· In Goal: Guillaume Therien – 2 GA, 0 SV, 2:53; Brian Wilson (1-1-0) – 0 GA, 13 SV
· Power Plays: Niagara – 2-for-4 (9 SOG); Sacred Heart – 1-for-2 (2 SOG)
· Records: Niagara – 3-2-0 (2-0-0 AHC); Sacred Heart – 2-4-0 (0-1-0 AHC)
· Location: Webster Bank Arena – Bridgeport, Conn.
· Attendance: 146
Game Recap
· Sacred Heart opened the scoring just 1:03 into the game. After the Niagara defense lost control of a clearing attempt, Marc Johnstone corralled the loose puck for the Pioneers and put a shot past the outstretched pad of Guillaume Therien for the early 1-0 lead.
· Just 1:40 later on the man advantage, Sacred Heart’s Jason Cotton wound up from the right faceoff dot and launched a snap shot over the glove of Therien, prompting Niagara to turn to Brian Wilson in goal.
· Eric Cooley got the Purple Eagles on the board at the 8:44 mark of the first. Derek Brown dug a loose puck out from behind the Sacred Heart net, and Derian Plouffe touched a pass over to Cooley on the back door, and his backhand found the back of the goal. Niagara outshot Sacred Heart 11-4 through the remainder of the first period.
· A dominant effort by the Purple Eagles’ attack yielded 19 shots on goal in the second period, but just one goal.
· At the 13:44 mark of the second, Tanner Lomsnes pounced on a loose puck in front of the goal to tie the game at 2-2. Noah Delmas’ shot from the point went just wide, but Niagara retained possession and James Roll worked the puck over to Lomsnes for the tap-in goal.
· Just one minute into the third period, Niagara scored its second power-play goal of the night. James Roll started the transition from the Niagara blue line and found Plouffe between the Sacred Heart defenders on their blue line. Plouffe streaked in on goal and buried a forehand over the blocker of Pioneers goalie Brett Magnus.
· The Purple Eagles’ defense held Sacred Heart without a shot on goal for more than nine minutes to close the game, preserving the 3-2 victory.
Coach’s Corner
· Head coach Jason Lammers: “I was really happy with our resiliency. It seems to be a theme that’s coming which is important if you’re going to win big games. I thought the guys did a real good job of sticking with the plan. The last two periods were some of the best we’ve played.”
Inside the Numbers
· Niagara’s plus-27 shot differential was the team’s largest in a game in five seasons. The Purple Eagles outshot Sacred Heart 52-24 in a 5-2 home win on Dec. 1, 2012.
· The Purple Eagles exceeded 40 shots on goal in a game for the first time since Jan. 21, 2017 against AIC.
· Noah Delmas (1+5) and Derian Plouffe (3+3) extended their season-opening point streaks to five games and are now tied for the team scoring lead with six points in five games.
· Delmas has an assist in all five games for Niagara this season.
· Plouffe now has five points in his last three road games against Sacred Heart; last season, he scored two goals and one assist in two games at Webster Bank Arena.
· Brian Wilson turned away all 13 shots he faced after relieving Therien 2:53 into the game. It was his first time in net since playing the full game at Colgate, a 5-1 loss in the season opener.
Up Next
· The Purple Eagles go for a sweep of the weekend series over the Pioneers when the two teams return to Webster Bank Arena tomorrow for a 2:05 p.m. faceoff.
